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The 14-year-old from Oahu is voicing the lead role in the South Pacific-set animated film about a spirited teen who takes to the seas to find the long-lost island that can connect her to her ancestors.

“From baby time to now, I wanted to be a Disney princess, and then I wanted to be a singer or an actress,” Cravalho told People, which is featuring a first look at the film in this week’s issue.

Cravalho caught the attention of an Oahu casting agent after singing at a charity competition, and is now starring opposite Dwayne Johnson (who voices a demigod named Maui) in the film, which opens in theaters Nov. 23, 2016.

“Moana is such an amazing character,” she added. “She’s brave, she is so empowered, she knows what she wants and she’s not afraid to get it, and I think that’s something that I can relate to as well. I just love watching how she goes along in this wonderful movie and grows as a person and helps her culture along the way.”

See more from Cravalho in the video below, and head to People for more on her and Moana.